Telephone device



A. P. YOUNG ET AL 1,758,813

TELEPHONE DEVI CE May 13, 1930.

Filed Aug. 18, 1925 f l l [l l af Inventors: Art nur` F Young John H Bute her,

a6 ff/-J S6 j 34 wg b9 mi@ F'Q'Z Th elr` Attorneg Patented May 13, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR PRIMROSE YOUNG, OF KENILWORTH,

AND JOHN H. BUTCHER, OF RUGBY,

ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK TELEPHONE DEVICE Application tiled August 18, 1925, Serial No. 51,032, and in Great Britain October 21, 1924.

Thie invention relates to Sound-emitting and transmitting apparatus, and particularly to hornleesA lolitl-speakingv telephones for use in the reception of wireless telephony, which instruments are also suitable for use as pick1 upa1 i. o., to receive sound and convert it into electric oscillations.

More particularly1 it relateal to hornless loud-speakers comprising an electromagnetic vibrator unit which is adapted to influence a conicaily-Shaped diaphragm substantially within which the vibrator unit is arranged.

In instruments ot' this class, according to the invention. an open-work cover-plate if; adapted to prevent damage to the more delicate parts of the instrument.

The diaphragm may be made of leatheroid or other .suitable material and may be provided with an annular groove near its peripher)v in a manner that is known in order that it will move substantially as a whole when actuated by the vibrator unit, the apex ofthe diaphragm bein; r adj ustably connected to the vibratory member. Thev periphery ot` the diaphragm may be gripped by moanaA ol' clampingv Icrewa between a rim,r and the cover plate, which is preferably in the form of an ol'ien-worlt dome-ahaped cage adapted to protect the diaphragm and to allow thc emission of sound. The apex or central portion of the cover-plate may be provided with a` detachable member to facilitate the adjustment. of the Connection between the diaphragm and the vibratorv member. The concaie side of the diaphragm is preferalol)y Closed by a back cover-plate `Secured both to the vlbratory unit and to the periphery of the front cover-plate.

Vith this arrangement a pleasing` lookin: bell-shape loudspeaker is produced. which may be mounted with the main axis of the conical diaphragm in a. vertical or horizontal plane, either` hanging from the ceiling or a bracketor supported by a suitable stand or legs adapted to rest, on a. table or other support.

The diaphragm ia relatively large compared with thevihrator unit; for instance. the diameter of the base of the diaphragm may be approximately three time@ that of the vibrator unit'. Preferably, the rear coverplate is secured to the vibra-tor unit so ab to provide means for reaching an adjusting device on the vibrator unit whereby the mag-v4 netic structure thereof ma)v be moved t0- warda or away from the cooperating vibratory member. i

The novel features which we believe to be characteristic of our invention are set'. forth with particularity in the appointed claimg. Our invention. itself. however. both as to its organization and method ot' operation willl best be understood from the 'following description taken in connection with the acconmarryingdrawing in which Fig. 1 is a. partial cross section and elevation of the device. Figs. :2 and 8 show the li ii ls-1pt-alter supported in horizontal and vertical positiona respectively.

leferriingr to the, drawing. 1l denotes an electro-magnetic vibratorv unit which may be of any Suitable type. The vibratorv member 12 thereof is connected b v the rod 13 to the conically-shaped diaphragm 14. the connection includingr an adjusting;w device, auch, for instance, as the screw l5 which engages with the bushing 16 and bears agrainat the connecting rod 13. The inner end o1' bushing 16 is provided with a flange 1T between which and the nut 1S the diaphragm is securely clamped. At the pointa of connection the diaphragm mayv be, strengthened. as indicated at 19. Near the edge of tht` dia phragm there is provided an annular groove 21, which acts aa a flexible support for tbe diaphragm, whereby the same will vibrate substantially as a whole when operating. The edge 22 of the diaphragm is Istripped between the supportingV ring 23 and' the edge 24, of the open-work cover-plate 25. The open-work cover-plate may he fori'ne-:l so that ithI center portion 2G is removable. an outvardly-turned flange 27 on the cover-platrmaking a good connection with the cap Q6.

Aa illustrated in Figi. l. the edge of the Cover-plate 25 may be turned down :is at 2S to provide u seating for the flange 2!) of the annular back cover-plate 31. The eover-pla t e 31 cooperates with the cover-plate 525 to ,ps-n. vide a housing for diaphragm 14. 'lhis back cover-plate may be secured by the screws and nuts 32 which clamp the edge of the diaphragm between the ring 23 and the coverplate 24. Its inner edge is here shown as being clamped to and supporting the vibrator units by means of the clamping devices 33 which hold vibratory member l2 in position with respect to the vibratory unit. This construction admits operation of the nut 34. by which the magnet-ic structure of the vibrator unit may be adjusted towards and away from its cooperating vibratory member.

In the construction shown in Fig. 2, a support comprising a ring portion 35 with which feet 36 are formed integrally is adapted to be secured to the edge of the unit, preferably bythe clamping devices 32, the feetthus being connected directly with the openwork cover-plate 25.

In Fig. 3, the instrument is shown provided with a handle for use when it is being moved and a base portion 37 mounted on knobs or the like 38 and connected to the cover-plate at the front and the back thereof by stays 39.

It will be obvious, if it is desirable to suspend the instrument, that two or more chains may be connected thereto, for instance, to the clamping screws 32.

YWhat we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In combination, a substantially conical shaped diaphragm, a vibrator member, an adjustable connection between the vibrator member and diaphragm, and a cover member secured at the edge of said diaphragm, said cover member having a. removable portion adjacent' said adjustable connection.

2. In combination, a substantially conical shaped housing, a substantially1 conical shaped diaphragm within said housing, means for clamping the diaphragm to the housing, means attached to said clampihg means for supporting said housing, and vibratory means cooperating with said diaphragm.

3. In combination, a substantially conical shaped diaphragm, vibratory means associated Withsaid diaphragm, a connection between said vibratory means and diaphragm, a perforated substantially conical cover-plate for said diaphragm, said cover-plate having a downwardlyr extending flange, supporting means for said vibratory means. said supporting means having an upwardly extending flange portion'adapted to cooperatewith the downwardly extending flange on the cover-plate, and means for clamping said cover-plate to said diaphragm andsupporting means.

4. 'lhe combination of a housing provided with an opening, a diaphragm within said housing, a vibrator-y member mounted in said opening and coupled to said diaphragm. means arranged to actuate said vibratory member, and means for adjusting thcmcchanical relation between said vibratory and actuating means.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 29th day of July, 1925.

ARTHUR PRIMROSE YOUNG. JOHN H. BUTCHER. 

